Forming apparatus for edible food products



June 10, 1952 G. J. CAMPBELL 2,599,894

FORMING APPARATUS FOR EDIBLE FOOD PRODUCTS Filed Dec. 9, 1949 2SHEETSSHEET 1 mG ERALD JA MES CAMPBELL.

June 10, 1952 CAMPBELL 2,599,894

FORMING APPARATUS FOR EDIBLE FOOD PRODUCTS Filed Dec. 9, 1949 2SHEETSSHEET 2 6 7 F\ G INVENTOR.

GERALD JAMES CAMPBELL Patented June 10, 1952 "UNITED STATES PATENToFFlcE PRODUCTS.

Gerald James CampbelL' Miami, Fla. Application December 9, 1949,Serial'No; 132,190

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in a forming device for ediblefood products.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine forcontinuously forming, precooking and cutting edible food products forsubsequent discharge into. a cooking medium.

The primary object of the present invention is to produce a relativelythin continuoussheet of edible dough composition from a feed hopper,passing the sheet between a pair of heated compressing and precookingdrums, cut the sheet into a plurality of ribbons, then cutting theribbons at right angle to form a plurality of relatively identicaluniform chips for subsequent deposit into a cooking medium.

It has been found, that a predetermined edible dough mixture havingparticular ingredients in its formula can be formed and cooked by thedeep-fry process, with the resultant product being very similar to thewell known potato chips, but having none of the undesirable qualities ofpotato chips, and having a distinctive flavor and digestibilityimpossible with the starchy potato chips. Further, the dough can beflavored with various essences, vegetable coloring etc. and the finalproduct is most attractive and desirable.

The invention further contemplates a machine having a continuous feeddough hopper arranged directly over a pair of slightly spaced heatedrotatable drums whereby the dough is fed from the hopper in a continuousrelatively wide sheet that is parallel with the drums, passing the sheetbetween the drums where it is partially cooked, arranging a plurality ofcutting knives directly below the drums and in a position to receive thepartially cooked and now relatively thin sheet whereby the sheet is cutvertically into a plurality of ribbons of equal width, arranging a pairof horizontally disposed cut-off knives in the path of the ribbons,whereby the ribbons are cut transversely into a plurality of squares,oblongs or the like.

The invention consists of novel features of construction that is whollyautomatic, yet simple and economical to construct and operate, isstrong, durable, readily lends itself to the production of otherarticles either edible or nonedible, is highly eflicient and results ina food or other product of outstanding quality.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will be readilyapparent during the course of the following description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, wherein has been illustrated apreferred embodiment of the invention and wherein like characters of 2,reference denote like parts throughout the severalfigures. V

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side'elevation of a machine constructed in accordance withthe invention,

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical, section thereof, taken on'line 22.ofFigure 1,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner ofcutting the dough,

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of the machine, taken online 44 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section on line 5-5 of Figure 4,; 1

Figure '6 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section taken on line.6-6 of Figure 4, and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view ofa plurality of cuttingdiscs.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates asupporting base of generally rectangular shape, having legs 6, wherebythe base is supported at a proper elevation. The base is cut away, as at1 and jis normally covered by a trough-like cooker 8, to-be more fullydescribed. Upstanding from the base 5, and parallel with each other, area pair of side plates 9, fixed with respect to the base 5 and formingthe mounting means for mechanism to be described.

Supported, as by end brackets ID, from the inner Walls of the plates9,'-is a dough receiving and discharge hopper 1!, generally rectangularin top plan and extending transversely of the machine. The hopper isformed open at its top and has a downwardly inclined-bottom l2,'terminating in a relatively narrow discharge nozzle l3 extending for thefull length of the hopper. A follower and ejector plate. I4 has asliding fit within the upper end of the hopper and partakes of verticalmovement to force the dough from the nozzle in a continuous sheet. Theejector plate I4 is progressively moved downwardly against the dough bya pair of spaced rack bars [5 fixed thereto and vertically disposed andparallel with each other. The bars operate through guide bearings I6supported from the tops of the plates 9. Vertical motion is imparted tothe rack bars and the ejector plate [4, by a pair of gears l1, carriedby shafts l8, journalled in bearings l9, supported from the side plates9. The shafts l8 are driven through the medium of worm wheels 20, inturn being driven by worms 2| carried upon a shaft 22. The shaft 22 isjournalled at its ends in bearings formed on the plates 9. Oneextendedendof the shaft 22 carries a grooved pulley 23, engaged by an endlessbelt 24, driven from a prime mover which, in the 5 present instance isindicated as an electric motor 25, supported upon a bracket 26, carriedby one side plate 9.

Mounted beneath the hopper II, is a pair of horizontally disposedcylindrical drums 21, parallel with respect to each other and with thehopper and its discharge nozzle. The drums are slightly spaced from eachother and rotate in unison upon fixed shafts 28. Each drum car ries agear 29, meshing with each other, as clearly shown, so that the drumsturn in opposite directions and toward each other. driven from a smallpinion gear 39, carried by a crossshaft 3|, journalled in" bearings 32of the plates 9. Each of the drums is journalled forrotation on theshafts 28. The shaft 3 1 is driven from a small pulley 33, in turndriven through the medium of a flexible endless belt 34 from a smallpulley 35 fixed upon the shaft of the motor 25. The drive reduction issuch that the drums rotate relatively slow, or approximately fourrevolutions per minute. However, the speed of the drums may varyaccording to: the material tobe treated. The drums are tubular and areheated by any conventional elements 36, supported upon the fixed shafts28'. Suitable lead-in electrical conductors 3'! supply current to theelements 36 and the degree: of heat'is' determined by any suitableregulator, not shown.

It has been-found essential inmost instances in a machine of this typewhere it is employed to produce edible food products, that the outerpolished surfaces of the drum be continuously oiled. For this purpose,parallel wicks 38 extend for the One gear 29 is major length of thedrum. The wicks are carried by distributor heads139, supported attheirends by the plates 9. Each distributor head has connection through themedium; of pipes 40, with reservoirs 41, for convenience; supported uponthe sides of the hopper ll. stance for application to the drum surfaces,is an edible oil commonly employed in cooking. The wicks maintain aconstant film of oil on the drum surfaces during the operationof themachine. It

will be observed, by referen'ceto Figure 4, that the discharge fromthen'ozz'le l3 isdirectly between the spacing of the drums; Scrapers 42,supported from the plates 9, engage the surfaces of the drums tomaintain them free of any possible accumulation and any material scrapedtherefrom falls into troughs 43, likewise supported between the plates9.

Journalled slightly below the drums 2 1 and spaced to either side ofth'evertical center line of the discharge nozzle I3, are a pair of parallelhorizontal shafts M. The shafts 44 are journalled in the plates '9and-one shaft is extended and carries at its outer end 'a pulley 45,driven from an endless belt '46, in turn-driven from a pulley 4T,- fixedfor rotation with a shaft 48, to be described. Each shaft 44 has fixedtheroh a-plurality of cutting discs 19, having a flat surface and abevelled'edge. The flat surfaces of the discs'upon one shaft coact withthe flat surfaces of the discs upon the other shaft, thus establish--ing a relatively thin'cutting edge. While the shafts may be gearedtogether, it is contemplated that one shaft will be positively drivenfrom the belt 46 and the opposite shaft and its discs will serve asidlers. As shown, the'coacting discs present a plurality ofequidistantly spaced vertically disposed cutting edges adapted to cutthe'sheet of dough emerging from the drums; into a plurality ofidentical ribbons. The precooking of The oil, in this in-.

the dough as it passes between th e ;drums enables the discs "to" cutthe sheet perfectly without the suitable storage'hopper 15".

dough adhering to the cutters. The cutting of the sheet into ribbons isgenerally illustrated in Figure 3.

Since it is also contemplated that the finished product shall be in theform of substantially identical squares or, as will be referred to aschips, it becomes necessary that means be provided to cut the ribbons intimed relation to the speed of the drums. To accomplish this; horizontaland reciprocatory cutter bars 50 and 5| are slidably mounted in slots52, formed in the plates 9. The bars 59 and 5| extend beyond the outersides of theplates 9 and their terminal ends are connected by shiftinglinks 53. The links 53 are pivotally supported intermediate their endsupon brackets .54, carried by the plates 9. The ends of thelinks arepivotally connected with the ends of the bars 50 and 5| and slots 55 areformed in the ends of the links to permit freedom of pivotalmovement ofthe links with respect to the bars. It will therefore be obvious, thatwhen the bar 50 is moved toward the bar 5|,- the bar- 51 willsimultaneously move toward the bar 50, with their bevelled cutting edgesmeeting on the ver} tical center line of the nozzle I3. Springs 56,connected with the bar 5| and with the plates 9, serve to maintain thebars in separated position, Means are provided to automatieallyshift thebar 59 toward the bar 5!, comprising a pair of cams'5'l, fixed upon theshaft 48' and rotatable therewith. Itwill'be' aparent, that when thecams rotate, they will bear against the edges of the bar 59 to shift ittoward the bar 5land, through the medium of the links 53, cause the bar5! to shift toward the bar 50' to overlapping position. The shifting ofthe bars is relatively quick and so timed witrprespect to the verticalcutters, that predetermined uniformly shaped chips will be cut from-theribbons as they are continuouslyfeddownwardly. The shaft 49 carries atits outer extended portion, a grooved pulley 58-, driven from anendlessbelt 59, from a pulley 60; fixed upon the shaft 3|. Y

As the chips are cut from the ribbons, they fall by gravity into thecooker 8-, containing boiling vegetable oil 6 I, heated by any desirablesource of energy, such as gas burners 62, located beneath the base 5.The cooker 8" is described indetail, although forming no part of thepresent invention. A plurality of impellers =63, transversely arrangedin the cooker trough}, rotate in unison through the medium of an endlesschaindrive 6'4. engaging sprockets '65 carried at the outer extendedends of the shaftstfi of the impellers. One shaft 55 is further extendedand carries a grooved pulley 6-1, engaged and driven by an-endless belt68; driven from apulley- 69, fixed upon the shaft 49.. The chain belt 64isfurther extended and drives a sprocket 10, fixed upon a shaft H of aninclined pick-up and discharge conveyor 12. The'upper shaft 13- oftheconveyor supports sprocket wheels for the traverse of the conveyor.The conveyor 12 is equipped with pick-up fingers 14' to lift the'ch'ipsfrom the oil for upward movement and discharge into any The upper shaftof the conveyor is-journalle'din'upright supports-16. Each impellercarries a plurality ofimpeller blades that progressively'move the chipstoward the conveyor 12, with the numberofimpellers calculated to movethe chips throughout the length of the cooking area in a' predeterminedinterval of time that is just sufficient to properly coOkthe'produc't'.i H E i V 'In" order to 'c'iuic'klyirais the'tejector plate H,

when it is desired to recharge the hopper H, the gear I 1 and its shaft18 is shiftable to a position of disengagement with the rack bars l5,thus permitting the ejector plate to be raised to its upper limit forclearance above the top of the hopper. The shaft l8 will obviously besplined to the worm gear 20. After recharging, the gear is moved tomeshed engagement with the teeth of the rack bars l and the machine isthen ready for operation.

In the use of the device, the hopper H having been fully charged withdough of the proper consistency and the ejector plate moved into contactwith the batch, the drums are heated and the cooker is prepared to theproper temperature. The motor is then started and through the medium ofthe worm and worm wheel drives 22 and 2|, the gears l8 are slowly drivento move the racks downwardly, causing the dough to be fed from thenozzle l3 in a wide sheet, slowly moving downwardly in a vertical planeand enters between the drums 21. The speed of the drums is sufficient'to receive and compress the sheet at the speed of its discharge from thenozzle. As the sheet passes between the drums, it is partially cookedand as it extends downwardly below the drums, the sheet engages thevertical rotary cutters and its continuous movement through the cutterspresents a plurality of vertically depending ribbons. The gear reductionfrom the motor 25 to the several mechanisms have been predetermined forimparting the proper speed to the drums so as to insure of the rightdegree of cocking time to the dough during its passage therebetween. Theejector plate 14 and its feed means are likewise timed to the speed ofthe drums, so that just suflicient dough will be forced from the nozzleto maintain a constant sheet being fed to the drums. As the ribbonscontinue to be fed downwardly after passing the cutters 49, they passbetween the cutting bars '50 and 5| and the bars are so timed as to movetogether under the influence of the cams 51 to cut the ribbonstransversely into predetermined size chips. The movement of the bars 50and 5| is rapid, quickly cutting the ribbons and then moving away fromeach other and away from the continuously moving ribbons. The separatingof the bars 50 and 5|, avoids the danger of dough adhering thereto andpermits the ribbons to pass downwardly the proper distance uninterruptedbefore the bars move to cutting position. t

The chips, upon being cut, fall into the boiling oil of the cookertrough 8 and are propelled along by the impellers until the chips arefinally picked up by the conveyor. The interval of time neces sary forthe chips to be carried from the point of entry to the point where theconveyor picks them up, is just suflicient to properly cook. thearticle, all other elements being equal, such as the proper cookingtemperature of the oil 6|. The drums 21 must likewise be heated to apredetermined temperature so as to maintain ust suflicient heat topartially cook the dough. It has been found essential, that a film ofoil be constantly applied to the working surfaces of the drums toprevent the dough sticking thereto and to impart a quality to the doughsheet that gives it a certain dense form, with the oil compressed intothe dough as it passes between the drums for its initial cooking. Thesheet after leaving the drums is comparatively dense and W111 notcrumble or break when engaged by the cutters 4'9 and cuts cleanly. Thedegree of oil obviously may be regulated as to the quantity fed to thewicks 38. Should any particles of dough adhere to the drums, it isscraped therefrom by the scrapers 42 and falls within the troughs '43.The collecting troughs 43 prevent any matter scraped from the drums fromfalling into the cooker 8.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a very novel and highlyefficient machine has been provided to produce an edible food producthaving outstanding qualities. The structure is wholly automatic afterthe dough hopper has been charged and will continuously feed, cut, cookand deposit the food product into a suitable hopper without furtherhandling. The drive means for the several parts are simple andinexpensive and are all so timed as to maintain a constant production.

While a preferred example of the machine has been illustrated anddescribed, it will be apparent that various changes in the shape. sizeand arrangement of parts may be resorted to as fall within the spirit ofthe invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, what I claimfrom the nozzle, means forheating the drums,

means for rotating the drums in opposite directions, continuous feedmeans for the ejector plate in timed relation to the rotation of thedrums, a prime mover for the movement of the ejector plate and drums, aplurality of vertically arranged co-acting rotary cutters disposedbeneath the drums to receive and slice the sheet into vertical- 1ydepending ribbons continuously during its travel, and cutter barsarranged beneath the rotary cutters to received and cut the ribbons atright angle into chips.

2. A forming apparatus for food products that comprises an elongatedsupporting base'having parallel upstanding side plates, a dough hopperdisposed between and supported by the side plates, a fiat nozzle formedupon the bottom of the hopper for its full length, afollower ejectorplate operable in the hopper for ejecting the dough from the nozzlecontinuously in relatively thin sheet form, reduction gear means formoving the plate against the dough in the hopper, a prime mover for thegear means, a pair of slightly spaced horizontally arranged cylindricaldrums rotatably supported in parallelism to the nozzle for receiving thesheet of dough continuously, heating elements in the drums, reductiongear means for rotating the drums in timed relation to the ejectingmeans, said drums adapted to compress and partially precook the sheetduring its passage therebetween, a plurality of disc cutters arrangedbeneath the drums to receive and cut the precooked sheet vertically intoribbons of equal width, a pair of co-acting cutter bars disposed beneaththe disc cutters to receive and cut the ribbons transversely into chips.

3. A forming device for food products that comprises a base plate havinga pair of parallel upstanding side plates, a dough hopper supportedbetween the plates and transversely of the base, an elongated dischargenozzle formed on the bot- :7 atom of the hopper, ia' f lower ejectorplate pperable in the ;hopper 'for zforcin :the dough through :thejnozzle? for discharge :in :sheet form, :reduction'gear means for:continuously t-moving the ejector, aiprime mover for zthe gear means aipair l of horizontally disposed and parallels slightly:spacedgcylindrical';drumswrotatablysupported betweentheaside;plates.and -para1le1 with and-equiadistantly ;spaced upon either side-ofthenozzle .sior receiving therebetweenzthe dough :sheet, the surface .of:the;drums 1beingsmooth and polished, heating :elements int-he drums,the drums geared togetherrforopposi-te rotation, reduction 'gearingforzirotating:the drums:intimecl relation to 2the dischargeofthe-dmghsheet iromethenozzlaisaid last named gear driven from theqprime mover,meansjor'oiling the surfacesof thedrumaaplur-rality of driven andvertically disposed cutting :discs arrangednbeneath the drumsand acorrespondingmumber of idler cuttin -discs arrangedheneath the drums andcooperatin with the driven discs, the severahdiscs adapted to jointlyreceive and cut the dough sheet .as discharged from the drums intovertically-dependingribbons of --equal width, a pair :of separablecutter bars disposed-beneath the rotary cutting discs means forshifting-the bars outwardly from thewertical line .of the :dough sheet,cam means .for moving .theabars together to cutthe ribbons transverselyintoequalsizechips, timed drivingmeans .for the .camsand'drive-meansforthe drivenidiscs.

4, -An apparatus for ,the forming andcutting of a food-productconsisting of ca .baseplate having -a;pair of upstanding {parallel :sideplates formed thereonat one end,,.a-=dough vhopper supported atitsendsto the plates and horizontally arranged transversely of .thedevice, thehQnper open atits top and provided with ,an inclined bottorn terminating.in a fiatnozzlefor thejfulllength of the hopper, an ejector platevertically movable into andout of the hopper for the discharge of thedough through the nozzle in sheet form, rackebars for the .controlof.the ejector plate, gears engaging the .bars, worm and Worm Wheels'foroperatingthe gears, the gearsbeing ,shiftable. out ofengagemen'twith the racks, a prime mover-for 'op- .erating the worm and vWormwheels, apainofihorizontally arranged drums of "hollow cylindrical..form disposed transversely of the device and parallel with the hopper,the drums having smooth polished .surfa'ces, fixed .s'hafts for .thesupport of the. drums, gears carriedatone .end of the drums and meshingwith each other to turn "the ,drums .cutters. ofieachshaftsliglitlyoverlapping the cuttterslofpthe companion .s'haft, bevelled cuttingedges vvon Tthe .discs, .the .discs 'bein vertically dis- ,posed .110received 'theshe'et of ,dough from "the drumstoeutit into aplurality ofvertical ribbons,

'Tdrivenmeans carried Joyonedffthe shafts,a pair l of horizontally.disDQsed shif table cuttenbars disposed ,be'low the .discsand parallelto the drums, the barsIshiftab1e toward and from each other, springscformoving 'thefbar to retracted position, cams rotatably supported ;forcontact 'with the opposite .endsof ,one bar; a shaft for the support ofthe cams, .link means connecting the ends of the bars, albrackc'tior the.support .of the links 7 carried by thefhase plates,'the'several shaftsjournalledv in thelbaseplates, drive means'forjthe cam shaft from .the,prime mover, drive "means from the vcamshaft ;to .the [disc shaft, andscrapers for thedrumsur'faces.

iGERALDQJAMES CAMPBELL.

REFERENCES GIT-ED The following references are :of :record in :the fileof-this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date =1,062;62'7 'Williams .-May 7 27,1913 1138;747 Graves May ,11, 11915 "17,382,926 Z'Mitchell June 28, 192113389976 I'Patten @Septfi, 1921 134513727 aGomez 0013.23, 192311,629,355 rMorrow ,,May, 17, 11927 15911,8.8'7 iFike .1 May 30,1933:2,454;-3:16 :Haecks Nov. .23, 19.48

FCREIGN PATENTS Number Country 7 Date

